Extreme Hereditary Murphy's Law

Extreme Hereditary Murphy's Law (EHML) is a condition that affects Milo Murphy and his father Martin. It has been passed down through the Murphy family tree since the term "Murphy's Law" was coined by an ancestor of Milo's, Sheriff Murphy, who lived in 1875.

Contents

Mechanics

EHML (commonly referred to simply as "Murphy's Law") is a condition which affects the Murphy family, as well as the main premise of Milo Murphy's Law. The basic idea of the hereditary disease is simple: it causes continuous catastrophes among members of the Murphy family. The idea of "bad luck" as seen in the series leads to destructive events. Murphy's Law has extreme social consequences on whoever has it: most people familiar with the effects of the law will stay away from the afflicted. Despite this, those affected by EHML have a cheerful disposition and a positive outlook.

Most likely, the Murphy's Law "gene" was transmitted for generations until Milo finally received it. It is unknown how is it transmitted or whether there is any way to "catch" EHML other than by birth. Furthermore, it appears that EHML only affects males, because Sara Murphy, Milo's older sister, is unaffected by it.

Milo's EHML results in a cyclone of calamities which follows him wherever he goes. They can be as small as just slipping or as large as entire buildings being destroyed, things catching fire without reason, trucks exploding, etc.

Murphy's Law is unpredictable. The severity of consequences cannot be judged by simply considering the severity of things that have happened before; there is no rhyme or reason to when someone affected will encounter disasters. Therefore, there is no way to "plan" for Murphy's Law except to prepare for any eventuality.

Being affected by Murphy's Law does not negate the possibility of good luck occurring, which is part of the unpredictability of EHML.

History

In reality

Edward Murphy is credited with coining Murphy's Law in our world — the principle that the worst thing can and will happen, and at the worst possible time. However, as Edward Murphy was born in 1918 and died in 1990, he is not the "original Murphy" in the Milo Murphy's Law universe. Milo claims that the original Murphy is his great-great-great-great-grandfather.

In Milo Murphy's Law

The original Murphy of Murphy's Law was the sheriff of an Old West town that was populated entirely by stranded time-travelers. His EHML had caused all their time machines to break down there. Cavendish and Dakota even landed there, but they returned to Milo's present by bump-starting their time machine. ("The Race")

Milo's cousin Nate is in denial about having EHML and maintains it skipped his generation, despite constantly experiencing the effects of Murphy's Law. ("A Christmas Peril")